Journey: The Desert

Jesus begins our Lenten Journey by taking us with him into the desert. His journey into the barren wasteland is a reminder of the journey that the people of Israel had taken when Moses led them out of slavery into the promised land. That arduous journey purified gods people from the snares of Egypt which had caused them to forget God and His covenant. In the desert they faced temptations and they usually failed. Jesus too faced temptations in the desert but he is victorious and he shows us how we can be victorious even in times of struggle or trial.
This Lent we are on a journey together. This is a journey of both self-discovery and God-discovery. Self discovery, because we will come to know ourselves as we step away from the temptations of this world and seek to grow in virtue and holiness. God discovery because the purpose of lent is to draw closer to God, to come to know his son as Savior and Lord and to be filled with the power of his Holy Spirit. What determines a "successful" Lent is not whether we shed a few pounds but whether we shed our sinful habits and draw closer to God. This week our mission in the first week of Lent is to set up a space in our homes where we can be free from distractions. It might be as simple as a chair facing A crucifix but just make sure that you won't have any of the normal distractions (like TV computers tablets or telephones) that keep us from focusing on God. Set up the space and designate it as the spot where you will spend time speaking to God on a daily basis throughout Lent. As we continue our journey with Jesus we will come to know ourselves and know God in a more dynamic and Intimate Way. God bless you!